Great progress in the advance of the Hyundai marque has been registered, according to Francesca Mamo, managing director of Meridian Enterprises Co. Ltd. She was speaking at the launch of the facelifted Hyundai Getz on Friday at Le Meridian Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana.
The Korean carmaker's vision to become a top five car manufacturer is "rapidly becoming a reality", Ms Mamo said. Hyundai is selling two million cars globally, sales in Europe from January to August, 2005, were up five per cent, and it is expanding into China, India and America.
"Hyundai was initially just a value offering. Today, it represents quality products and they have placed a big emphasis on innovation and customer care," she said.
In 2004, Hyundai claimed second place in the J.D. Powers and Associates quality classification. J.D. Powers named the Hyundai Tucson the highest quality new model launched this year and the Sonata was ranked first in its class for reliability with just two defects per 100 cars.
The Getz has been Meridian Enterprises' best selling model in Malta, leading in its segment for the past two years. Worldwide sales since 2002 have topped 550,000 and Ms Mamo said she was confident the new Getz would continue its success story.
Meridian Enterprises sales and marketing manager Ryan Buttigieg said Hyundai's supermini was intended to enable the carmaker to increase its European presence. The facelifted model has a "fresher, more stylish exterior, combined with a significantly improved interior choice and increased performance.
"This... has been complemented by enhanced handling. The overall result is a car fully capable of widening the Hyundai family throughout the world."
Prices start at Lm4,150 for the entry level three-door petrol model, with a fully equipped five-door version with air-conditioning, power steering, driver's airbag, central locking, height adjustable seat and steering, rear split and reclining seats, colour-coded bumpers, tinted glass, rear wiper, immobiliser, radio preparation and six speakers costing Lm5,200.
There is a choice of both petrol and diesel engines with outputs from 66 bhp to 110 bhp. The Getz is 3,825 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,495 mm high on a 2,455 mm wheelbase. Colours have been added on and you can now choose from 12 solid or metallic colours. The new Getz is on display at the Meridian Enterprises showroom in Valley Road, Birkirkara.